Child sex gang convicted over raping vulnerable girls

GANG: Hassan Abdulla (L) and Zdeno Mirga have been found guilty over multiple counts of rape [PA]

Two men and three teens of Czech, Slovak and Kurdish backgrounds, were convicted at London's Old Bailey for their part in the abuse carried out in Peterborough between April and December 2012.

Zdeno Mirga, 18, was described as "the boss" by one of the victims and was found guilty of eight counts of rape and one count of inciting child prostitution.

All the victims were aged between 12 and 14. Two of the girls were of Czech/Slovak origin while the other three were English.

Speaking afterwards detective superintendent Gary Ridgway said: "These girls were targeted simply because they were vulnerable. They were seen as easy targets and exploited by this group of teenage boys and young men who abused them for their own sexual gratification.

GUILTY: The case was being heard at the Old Bailey in London [GETTY]

“These girls were targeted simply because they were vulnerable. They were seen as easy targets and exploited by this group of teenage boys and young men who abused them for their own sexual gratification”

Detective superintendent Gary Ridgway

"The victims, who were as young as 12 years old, were subjected to horrific ordeals.

"But they have shown incredible strength throughout this process; in particular by giving evidence at court in order to bring these people to justice."

The case came to light when a Czech/Slovak girl, known as Victim A, was taken into care and began telling her social worker what had been happening to her.

The jury heard that Mirga had sex with the girl in the toilets in a park and also abused her on a park table.

The 18-year-old ringleader also encouraged the child, who has learning difficulties, "often very forcefully" to have sex with other boys and men - sometimes with the threat of violence.

The victim told police that Mirga "shared" her because he wanted money to buy cannabis and vodka, the court heard.

Two boys, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were convicted unanimously of various counts of rape and sexual assault

Another boy was found guilty by a majority of sexual activity with a child, but cleared of rape.

Hassan Abdulla, 33, was convicted by a majority of the jury of four rapes and three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Zdeno Mirga's brother Dusan, 20, David Ziga, 19, and a teenage boy, were cleared by the jury.

Judge John Bevan QC has said sentencing will take place on February 20.